Shared Care for ADHD Medication: Essential Information
Managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often involves collaboration between specialists and General Practitioners (GPs) through shared care agreements. These arrangements can offer significant benefits but also present certain challenges, especially following private assessments.
Why GPs May Decline Shared Care Requests:
Practice Policies: Some GP practices or local healthcare networks have policies that may not support shared care agreements with private providers, aiming to maintain consistent care standards.
Clinical Responsibility: GPs need confidence in the thoroughness of private ADHD assessments before taking on prescribing responsibilities. Concerns about the robustness of some private evaluations can lead to hesitancy in accepting shared care.
Workload Pressures: GPs often have substantial workloads, with increasing patient numbers and complex demands, which may limit their capacity to take on additional responsibilities associated with shared care.
Benefits of Shared Care Prescribing for Patients:
Integrated Care: Promotes seamless coordination between specialists and GPs, ensuring comprehensive ADHD management.
Accessibility: Allows patients to receive prescriptions and routine monitoring through their GP, enhancing convenience and continuity of care.
Cost-Effectiveness: Provides access to NHS prescriptions, which are generally more affordable than private ones.
Annual Specialist Review:
Shared care agreements typically include provisions for an annual review by the specialist, ensuring ongoing assessment of the patient's condition and treatment effectiveness.
Importance of Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment:
A thorough assessment and well-structured treatment plan by the specialist are crucial for successful shared care. This includes accurate diagnosis, appropriate medication titration and stabilisation (getting medication to the right level), and clear communication of the management strategy to the GP.
Recommendation from Attention To Health:
If you are considering pursuing shared care, Attention To Health strongly suggests contacting your GP before starting a treatment programme. This proactive step can help determine your GP's willingness to participate in shared care, ensuring a smoother transition and continuity of care.
We acknowledge that GPs have substantial workloads, with increasing patient numbers and complex demands. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that any assessment and treatment plan provided is of the highest quality. Attention To Health is committed to supporting patients and is happy to conduct annual specialist reviews as part of shared care agreements. We are also willing to liaise directly with your GP to offer advice and guidance on what constitutes a comprehensive assessment, assuring them that our practices align with best practice and adhere to NICE and AQAS guidelines.
Should shared care not be possible, Attention To Health can offer to continue prescribing medication. However, patients should be aware that this option may be less cost-effective compared to obtaining prescriptions through the NHS.
By contacting your GP early and ensuring comprehensive assessments, shared care arrangements can be effectively implemented, providing patients with coordinated and accessible ADHD treatment.